Improvement in corset-clasps



J. H. BONGARTZ. Corset-Clasp.

No. 198,269. Patented Dec. 18,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BONGARTZ, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSET-CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,269, dated December18, 1877 application filed October 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jomv H. BONGARTZ, of Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Gorset-Glasps; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled a view of the same when slightly bent outward.

Fig. 5 is a side or edge view of one-half of the clasp bent downwardly.Fig. 6 represents a corset to which the improved clasp is applied, theupper frontal portion of the corset being opened and bent away from theperson of the wearer; and Fig. 7 represents detached views of theremovable springs.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of corset-claspsin which hinges are employed to make the upper frontal portion of thecorset yielding, and to permit it to be opened and turned downwardly toexpose the breast for nursing and other purposes; and it consists of ahinged corset-clasp, provided with removable springs at the joints, forthe purposes of causing the clasp to give way to the movements of theperson of the wearer when stooping, and to return to place when theperson is again erect; also, to permit the upper frontal portion of thesame to be opened and turned down to expose the breast for nursing orother purposes; and, further, to permit the springs, when broken, to becheaply replaced, and thereby avoid the purchase of a new set of clasps,as has heretofore been required, all of which will be hereinafter morefully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing similar letters of reference indicate likeparts of the invention.

The corset A may be of the ordinary construction; but the clasps B B arecomposed each of two pieces, hinged together at D, and the leaf of theupper portions of the hinges to which the pieces 0 are attached lap thelower portions 0, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to prevent the ends of saidupper portions G from pressing against the wearer when said upperportions are turned down, when the corset is worn. The clasps B B havethe usual studs and eyes, and are further provided with clasps E E belowthe hinges F F, to receive the lower ends of the removable springs H H.The removable springs H H are indented at I, to receive the joints ofthe hinges When the upper portions of the clasps are bent downwardlythey slide against the upper ends of the removable springs H H.

In ordinary use, when the wearer stoops, the springs will yield to themovements of the wearer, and will return the clasps to place when thewearer regains an erect position.

When the wearer desires to nurse her child it is simply necessary toremove the springs H H, or one of them, unfasten the clasps, and turnone or both of the frontal portions down, as shown in Fig. 6.

Should one or both of the springs H H be broken, they can be easilyreplaced at a trifling cost, thereby avoiding an expensive outlay for anew set of clasps, the trouble alone of inserting the clasps being quitean item, and as the springs are the weaker part they are more likely tobe broken than the clasps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hinged corset-clasp, provided with the removable springs H H,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The corset-clasp B B, having the hinges F F and clasps E E, incombination with the indented removable springs H H, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. BONGARTZ.

Witnesses:

GEo. S. BARNEY, JEROME B. KIMBALL.

